Recognizing Lorena Pachiardi

Floor Speech

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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lorena Pachiardi, an extraordinary 11th-grade student from Cupeyville School in San Juan, Puerto Rico, who has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Puerto Rico's At-Large Congressional District.

Lorena developed GoldenCarePR, a thoughtful and innovative bilingual mobile application designed to support elderly individuals and their caregivers throughout Puerto Rico. Her app centralizes essential information on services, benefits, legal rights, digital safety, and health guidance, while also providing practical caregiving tools such as a task manager and a health tracker for vital signs and medications.

Her project addresses one of the most pressing demographic challenges of our time. According to the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, the population aged 65 and older is now double the population under 15 years old. This dramatic shift in our demographic structure reflects not only a global trend of population aging, but also a profound societal challenge in Puerto Rico--one marked by limited resources, insufficient services, and a lack of comprehensive programs to support our older adults.

It is within this context that GoldenCarePR becomes more than an app; it becomes a powerful tool of compassion and public purpose. By identifying real gaps in information, services, and support for seniors and their families, Lorena created a platform that has the potential to meaningfully improve the quality of life of thousands across Puerto Rico.

Mr. Speaker, Lorena's achievement embodies the very mission of the Congressional App Challenge: empowering young people to harness the power of technology to solve real problems and uplift their communities. Her innovation stands as an inspiring example of how the next generation is already stepping forward to address Puerto Rico's most urgent needs, with knowledge and love.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Lorena Pachiardi, the 2025 Congressional App Challenge winner for my district. Her talent, leadership, and compassion give us great hope for the future of Puerto Rico.

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